12-04-2025
Meet Echo: Guthrie's newest & furriest security officer
SAYRE, Pa. (WETM) — Guthrie is taking an innovative step to prioritize safety and peace of mind for its staff and patients by introducing a four-legged member to its security team.
On Friday, April 11, Guthrie presented its K9 Security Team: 'Echo Cardiogram Guthrie' also known as 'Echo', and his handler, K9 Security Officer Jennifer Vaughn.
Echo is a one-year-old German Shepard and the first K9 officer at Guthrie. Alongside his handler, Echo began patrolling the halls of Robert-Packer Hospital in Sayre this week — marking the start of a program that will soon expand across other Guthrie campuses.
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According to hospital leaders, the initiative has been in development for months. While Guthrie has not faced a specific incident, leaders say the K9's presence can proactively calm tensions and deter violence before it happens.
'Our statement of feeling safe so that you can heal safe is absolutely true,' said Andrew Dunnick, Senior Director of Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness at Guthrie. 'And it's also critically important we take care of our workforce,' he said.
Emergency department nurse at Robert-Packer Amber, reiterated that statement.
'I have felt safe here at Guthrie, but recent incidents in our state and across the nation have proven that violence can occur anywhere,' Amber said.
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Echo's training and temperament are tailored to hospital environments. He and Officer Vaughn completed specialized instruction on detection, obedience, and situational readiness. Their goal isn't just about physical presence — it's also about reassurance.
'We learned the basics how to find, how to detect, how to train me how to handle him, how to do obedience, how to keep him interested in what he's doing,' Vaughn exclaimed. 'And our training will continue,' she said.
According to hospital staff and Officer Vaughn, Echo is already drawing smiles.
'I'm just the person at the end of the leash. They're very excited, they call his name, they're excited to see him. I've had lots of comments on how people feel safer,' said Vaughn. 'So, it's been a wonderful experience and it's been a good experience for Echo as well.' she said.
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State Representative Tina Pickett of Pennsylvania's 110th District praised the program for its real-world practicality.
'Law enforcement is not always available just like that, and the folks that are working in the emergency room and some of the other medical situations here have to react to something very quickly,' Pickett said. 'I believe that Echo is going to be able to make a lot of those incidents not happen,' she said.
According to Dunnick, the program is funded through Guthrie's internal budget, and more security enhancements are in the works.
Echo whose full name is Echo Cardiogram Guthrie is currently the only health-system-affiliated K9 in the region.
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